June 2008

The word came early this morning, when, during the seven o'clock shift change, the newly arriving daytime officer announced that we're still under a "lockdown..."

It was also obvious when, around 7:30, several other officers showed up in the housing unit pushing a stainless steel food cart. Breakfast was being served. This is the procedure during a lockdown. Each man gets one individual styrofoam food tray along with a cup of barely chilled skim milk and a small 4-ounce juice.And with all this came the endless speculation amongst the inmates as to why this was happening. I know that, several days ago, there was a seemingly isolated fight among members of two rival Latino gangs. Although most of the time the prison is peaceful with regard to gang related violence, whenever there is an incident, or whenever the administration thinks there is, they get nervous.Yet whatever the reason for the shutdown, I at least have the day off. This means no work. But also no chance to shower or to use the community telephones later tonight. Instead, until further notice, I'm to remain confined to my room. In this environment, an inmate could be out of his cell one minute, but locked in his cell the next, sometimes for many days.D.B.